Identification of a Link between Suspected Metabolic Syndrome and Cognitive Impairment within Pharmaceutical Care in Adults over 75 Years of Age

Abstract

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cognitive impairment (CI) is increasing with age. MetS reduces overall cognition, and CI predicts an increased risk of drug-related problems. We investigated the impact of suspected MetS (sMetS) on cognition in an aging population receiving pharmaceutical care in a different state of old age (60–74 vs. 75+ years). Presence or absence of sMetS (sMetS+ or sMetS−) was assessed according to criteria modified for the European population. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score, being ≤24 points, was used to identify CI. We found a lower MoCA score (18.4 ± 6.0) and a higher rate of CI (85%) in the 75+ group when compared to younger old subjects (23.6 ± 4.3; 51%; p < 0.001). In the age group of 75+, a higher occurrence, of MoCA ≤ 24 points, was in sMetS+ (97%) as compared to sMetS− (80% p < 0.05). In the age group of 60–74 years, a MoCA score of ≤24 points was identified in 63% of sMetS+ when compared to 49% of sMetS− (NS). Conclusively, we found a higher prevalence of sMetS, the number of sMetS components and lower cognitive performance in subjects aged 75+. This age, the occurrence of sMetS and lower education can predict CI.